Victoria Park People Power

Tuesday night, despite a late meeting time (8.30pm), Victoria Park residents packed the Town Administration building to express their deep concern at the direction being taken by their Council in the State Government's local government so-called reform process. Residents had called the special meeting by petition.

Mayor Vaughan told the meeting that the Town had surveyed residents and found that 65% wanted to the Town to remain as is.   However, in July 2013 Minister Simpson told them that they would be forced to amalgamate so they began negotiations with South Perth.

Five motions were moved by the Victoria Park Residence Association convener Andy Cooper (0419 955 586) and all were passed with overwhelming support.   The Mayor committed the Council to consider the motions within the next month.

All five motions were carried by overwhelming majorities:

That the Town of Victoria Park adopt a policy position to retain the town with its current gazetted boundaries. Passed  99-8

That the Town of Victoria Park suspend immediately any further activity and expenditure on the State government's reform process until a final decision is made on the future of the town. Passed  102-7

That the 2014 - 2015 budget be amended to remove the amount of $750,000 being the sum allocated to fund the State Government reform process. Passed  104-4

That the Town seek advice from the Mayors Alliance of councils for democracy on legal options on the extent of alleged illegality or abuse of process undertaken by the local government advisory board already available to the Alliance in which members and seek access to those opinions. Passed  111-1 

That the town of Victoria Park allocate some of $50,000 to be used to obtain legal advice and assist with any action to suspend the operation of the local government advisory board. Passed  104-0

Thanks to Malcolm Mummery for this write up (to which I have made a few minor changes).

Now it's over to the Victoria Park Council, which has to consider these motions either at its next meeting or as soon as possible thereafter. Acting CEO, Anthony Vuletta, said that he would try to get them on the agenda for the next Council meeting (Tuesday 8th July) but that normally such matters would be presented at a Council briefing a week beforehand - and the briefing for the 8th July meeting had been held earlier that evening.

Not sure I go along with that excuse, as the Special Electors Meeting could have been held earlier - in fact, Tuesday 1st July was the last date on which it could be held, being 28 days* (close to the maximum 35 days) after submission of the petition allowed by the Local Government Act (Clause 5.28).

* Corrected 8th July 2014. The original posting stated that the meeting was held the full 35 days after submission of the petition.